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NCAA Football: Mountain West Tiebreaker System Skewed

by Vegas Writer

Tuesday, Nov 28, 2023

Fresh off their road win in Las Vegas, the San Jose State Spartans were left out of the title game despite tying the UNLV Rebels and Boise State Broncos atop the standings.Instead, after losing on its home field, UNLV will play host to Boise State this Saturday to determine the league champion.League officials used the average of four rankings - Anderson & Hester, Colley Matrix, Massey, and Wolfe - to break the tie, and UNLV had a 44.50 computer average to secure one spot while Boise State checked in at 55.75 and San Jose State finished with a 58.50.Only the Wolfe ranking system had SJSU ranked higher than Boise State.San Jose State is still going to a bowl game, but some believe it should be in this weekend's championship.The Mountain West, which abandoned divisions this season, couldn’t use the College Football Playoff rankings because none of the three teams are ranked. Head-to-head results became irrelevant because Boise State and UNLV did not meet this season.But here are some other factors to consider: Both SJSU and Boise State had significantly stronger strength of schedules. An analytical website, Team Rankings, ranked Boise State 70th and San Jose State 72nd in terms of strength of schedule. Also on Team Rankings, its Luck Rating scale has UNLV ranked the 36th luckiest team in the nation, in terms of wins above expected, San Jose State 82nd, and Boise State 106th. San Jose State hasn’t lost since Oct. 7, a 35-27 loss at Boise State, and the Spartans blew a 27-7 halftime lead. But they did beat UNLV on its own field.And what would have happened if the Mountain West used the same tiebreaking system as other leagues?Check it: AAC: Boise State at UNLV ACC: UNLV at Boise State Pac 12: UNLV at Boise State Big 12: UNLV at Boise State So, yes, in every other FBS conference similar to the MWC, San Jose State would've been eliminated, but 75% of them would have Boise State hosting the championship.I won't have a play on the game, but it is interesting the Broncos opened a road favorite in Las Vegas.Are the oddsmakers - along with the other conference tiebreakers and Team Rankings - telling us something?

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NFL Week 13: VW's Power Rankings

by Vegas Writer

Tuesday, Nov 28, 2023

Back in action with NFL Power Rankings, and once again there's been a bit of a shake-up in the Top 10.Philadelphia is back on top of the rankings, followed by the resurging 49ers. The defending champs stumbled down to No. 3.From there it's muddled with new names.The biggest surprise? How about the suddenly improved Broncos?Let's get to it:THE UPPER TIER1. Philadelphia (10-1) - The Eagles are the clear leader in the NFC and in my power poll after registering their fourth straight comeback win. They’ve shown resiliency at the right time of the year while Jalen Hurts is playing at an MVP level. Philadelphia faces the 49ers and Cowboys in its next two games. (Last week 2)2. San Francisco (8-3) - The 49ers have gotten healthy at the right time and came out of the bye week better than before. They geared up for Sunday's NFC championship rematch against Philadelphia with a dominating 31-13 win at Seattle on Thanksgiving. (Last week 7)3. Kansas City (8-3) - The Chiefs rebounded from a home loss to Philadelphia, one laced by dropped balls, by rallying for a 31-17 win in Las Vegas. Though it took a quarter to get going against the Raiders, Patrick Mahomes completed two touchdown passes while Isiah Pacheco ran for two scores. (Last week 1)4. Dallas (8-3) - The Cowboys trounced the Commanders 45-10 on Thanksgiving, their seventh win by at least 23 points. Dak Prescott threw four touchdown passes, DaRon Bland set an NFL record with his fifth pick-six of the season and Micah Parsons added to his sack total. If only they could beat elite teams. (Last week 8)5. Baltimore (9-3) - The Ravens will spend this weekend watching Miami, Jacksonville and Kansas City try to pull even with them atop the AFC. Baltimore won its second straight after holding the Chargers to 279 yards of offense. (Last week 3)6. Jacksonville (8-3) - Trevor Lawrence threw for 364 yards and one touchdown and ran for a score to help the Jags stymie division-rival Houston, 24-21. Jacksonville now holds a two-game lead over the Texans (6-5) and Indianapolis Colts (6-5) in the AFC South. (Last week 5)7. Detroit (8-3) - The Lions were ascending in the overall NFC standings but took a major step back when they were outplayed on Thanksgiving in a 29-22 loss to the Green Bay Packers. And that was after needing to rally to beat the lowly Bears four days prior. Jared Goff, once again, has critics questioning his legitimacy. (Last week 6)8. Miami (8-3) - The Dolphins continue to win, somehow, and now have three straight opponents with a combined 12-22 mark. Then, however, the Dolphins finish with three tough games against Dallas, Baltimore and Buffalo. (Last week 11)9. Denver (6-5) - The hottest team in the league resides in the Mile High City, as the Broncos are relevant heading into December for the first time since 2016. It's hard to believe after they stumbled to a 1-5 start. (Last week 19)10. Cleveland (7-4) - First Deshaun Watson, and now Dorian Thompson-Robinson. The Browns continue to get bitten by the injury bug at the quarterback position. The Browns have a long road ahead the last six weeks. (Last week 9)11. Buffalo (6-6) - The Bills, who entered the season with Super Bowl expectations, collapsed in Philadelphia as they blew several leads, including one in overtime, before losing 37-34. The loss dropped them to 10th in the AFC. (Last week 10)12. Seattle (6-5) - The Seahawks were climbing, and even had a chance to regain the lead in the NFC West but were no match against the 49ers. They've lost two in a row and are scrambling. (Last week 12)13. Pittsburgh (7-4) - The Steelers fired then-offensive coordinator Matt Canada, and then went out and topped 400 yards for the first time in more than three years, moving the ball fluidly against the Bengals. Now they're atop the AFC wild-card race. (Last week 16)14. Houston (6-5) - The Texans' hard-to-swallow loss to the Jaguars could fuel their fire down the stretch. Matt Ammendola’s 58-yard field goal attempt bounced off the crossbar at the end, otherwise, this team might be in the Top 10. (Last week 20)15. Green Bay (5-6) - The Packers have made a statement with two straight wins, including the upset in Motown over the NFC North-leading Lions. They're within reach of a playoff spot in the NFC and fans are rejoicing knowing Aaron and Davante aren't even close. (Last week 18)16. Cincinnati (5-6) - The Bengals' demise continues without Joe Burrow, as they've lost three in a row and now travel to AFC South-leading Jacksonville. (Last week 4)THE LOWER TIER:17. Minnesota  (6-6) - Two straight losses, including Monday at home to the Bears. Maybe Joshua Dobbs isn't the answer. (Last week 14)18. L.A. Chargers (4-7) - Is Brandon Staley still coach? (Last week 13)19. Indianapolis (6-5) - One of the more confusing teams in the AFC, the Colts have the wild-card race muddled. (Last week 23)20. New Orleans (5-6) - The Saints have lost two in a row and do have three straight at home. They need a strong showing during the homestand. (Last week 15)21. Atlanta (5-6) - The Falcons come out of a bye week with a win over the Saints, snapping their three-game skid, and now have three winnable games in front of them. (Last week 24)22. N.Y. Jets (4-7) - Don't bother forcing a return Aaron, there's no reason to further damage your Achilles when this team isn't going anywhere. (Last week 17)23. L.A. Rams (5-6) - The Rams might be the NFC's version of the very strange and confusing Colts, as they've suddenly won two straight and are knocking on the wild-card door. (Last week 27)24. N.Y. Giants (4-8) - Not sure where the Giants' two-game win streak came from, and now they get a bye week before winnable games against Green Bay and New Orleans. (Last week 30)25. Las Vegas (5-7) - Four of the Raiders’ final five games are against teams with winning records. Interim coach Antonio Pierce needs to be competitive to be considered long-term. (Last week 22)26. Chicago (4-8) - The Bears beat the Vikings on Monday, but it also might be safe to say Minnesota keeps beating itself. (Last week 31)27. Tennessee (4-7) - The Titans will finally play at home for consecutive games, looking for a winning streak after a 17-10 win over Carolina. (Last week 25)28. Washington (4-8) - The Commanders should do Ron Rivera a favor and let him go somewhere he can utilize his coaching abilities. (Last week 21)29. Tampa Bay (4-7) - I can't believe I'm saying this, but the Buccaneers are still in a position to control their destiny considering how weak the NFC South is this year. (Last week 26)30. New England (2-9) - Once Staley is fired, Bill Belichick should make a move out West. (Last week 28)31. Arizona (2-10) - The Cardinals' rebuild won't be easy, but it may start with a fresh look at quarterback. (Last week 32)32. Carolina (1-10) - Frank Reich became the second in-season firing. The Panthers now may have their second straight No. 1 pick. (Last week 29)

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, NHL, NCAAB and UEFA Champions League Previews and Odds - 11/28/2023

by Big Al Staff

Tuesday, Nov 28, 2023

The Tuesday sports card features NBA, NHL, NCAAB, and UEFA Champions League action. The National Basketball Association continues its In-Season Tournament with eight games on the Tournament Night docket. Five NBA games tip off at 7:40 PM ET. The Boston Celtics host the Chicago Bulls as a 13-point favorite, with the total set at 217 (all odds from DraftKings unless indicated). The Brooklyn Nets play at home against the Toronto Raptors as a 1-point favorite with an over/under of 223. The Cleveland Cavaliers are at home against the Atlanta Hawks as a 5-point favorite with a total of 237. The Milwaukee Bucks travel to Miami to play the Heat on TNT as a 3-point road favorite with an over/under of 226. The New York Knicks host the Charlotte Hornets as a 12-point favorite with a total of 222.5. The Minnesota Timberwolves play at home against the Oklahoma City Thunder at 8:10 PM ET as a 4-point favorite with an over/under of 227.5. The Dallas Mavericks are at home against the Houston Rockets at 8:40 PM ET as a 5-point favorite with a total of 231.5. The Sacramento Kings host the Golden State Warriors on TNT at 10:10 PM ET as a 2.5-point favorite with an over/under of 238.5. The National Hockey League has ten games on its slate. Two NHL games drop the puck at 7:07 PM ET. The Toronto Maple Leafs play at home against the Florida Panthers as a -142 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. The New Jersey Devils are at home against the New York Islanders at 7:37 PM ET as a -170 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Carolina Hurricanes visit Philadelphia to play the Flyers at 7:37 PM ET as a -162 money-line road favorite with a total of 6. Three NHL games begin at 8:07 PM ET. The Minnesota Wild host the St. Louis Blues as a -162 money-line favor with an over/under of 6.5. The Pittsburgh Penguins play in Nashville against the Predators as a -120 money-line road favorite with a total of 6.5. The Dallas Stars are in Winnipeg to play the Jets as a -118 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 6. The Seattle Kraken travel to Chicago to play the Blackhawks at 8:37 PM ET as a -175 money-line road favorite with a total of 6.5. Two NHL games begin at 9:07 PM ET. The Tampa Bay Lightning play in Arizona to play the Coyotes as a -135 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Edmonton Oilers play at home against the Vegas Golden Knights as a -130 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. The Vancouver Canucks are at home against the Anaheim Ducks at 10:07 PM ET as a -238 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The college basketball schedule has seven games on national television. Two NCAAB games tip off at 7 PM ET. Providence hosts Wagner on FS1 as a 20.5-point favorite with a total of 124.5. Syracuse plays at home against LSU on ESPN2 as a 1.5-point favorite with an over/under of 151. Two more NCAAB games start at 7:30 PM ET. Kentucky is at home against Miami (FL) on ESPN as a 5.5-point favorite with a total of 164. Pittsburgh plays at home against Marquette on ESPNU as a 6.5-point favorite with an over/under of 146. Two NCAAB games start at 9 PM ET. Marquette is at home against Southern on FS1 as a 30-point favorite with a total of 148.5. Missouri hosts North Carolina State on ESPN2 as a 1-point favorite with an over/under of 146.5. Alabama plays at home against Clemson on ESPN at 9:30 PM ET as a 9-point favorite with a total of 159.5. Matchday 5 in the UEFA Champions League begins with eight group-stage matches. Two matches start at 12:45 PM ET. RB Lazio is at home against Celtic as a -1 goal-line favorite with an over/under of 2.5. Shakhtar Donetsk hosts Antwerp as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with a total of 2.5. Six matches conclude the UCL card at 3 PM ET. Atletico Madrid plays at Feyenoord on the CBS Sports Network in a pick ‘em match with an over/under of 2.5. Paris Saint-Germain plays at home against Newcastle United as a -1 goal-line favorite with a total of 2.5. AC Milan is at home against Borussia Dortmund as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with an over/under of 2.5. Manchester City hosts RB Leipzig as a -1.5 goal-line favorite with a total of 3. The Young Boys plays at home against Crvena Zvezda as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with an over/under of 3. Barcelona is at home against FC Porto as a -1 goal-line favorite with a total of 2.5. All eight Champions League matches are available on Paramount+.

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NBA Player Props - Monday, November 27th

by ASA, Inc.

Monday, Nov 27, 2023

ASA’s NBA PLAYER PROPS – Monday, November 27th We have two player props for you on Monday night on a pair of Point Guards going up against two porous defenses. Not only that, but these two bets involve teams playing with the two highest Totals on the board which means more than normal scoring opportunities for the players involved. Monday Night football dominates the betting markets tonight but here are a few opportunities to capitalize on NBA player props this evening. WASHINGTON WIZARDS TYUS JONES - OVER 11.5 POINTS Jones is coming off a 4-point outing against the Hawks but should get right in this match up versus the Pistons. Jones is averaging 10.8PPG over his last ten games but in three of those games he managed just 6-total points. In the other seven games over that ten game stretch he has averaged 14.5PPG. Tonight, the Wiz face a Detroit team that allows the most points to Point Guards this season at 28.5PPG. Detroit is 24th in defensive efficiency allowing 1.178 points per possession on the season and allow opponents to shoot 50.3% on the season which is 30th or last in the league. Tyus Jones is coming off a poor shooting night against the Hawks, but he had shot 64.3%, 46.2%, 69.2%, 57.1% and 85.7% in his previous five games. Lastly, the Total on this game is 236 total points which means a high scoring game for both teams with more than average scoring opportunities for both teams. PORTLAND TRAILBLAZERS MALCOLM BROGDON – OVER 19.5 POINTS What we know about Malcolm Brogdon going back to his Virginia days is that he likes to get his. Brogdon is working hard this season to put up numbers to showcase his skills before the trade deadline. He is second on the teams in field goal attempts at 15.8 and averages 17.7PPG on the season. In the last three games he has scored 18, 20 and 19 points. He has scored 18+ in 7 of his last ten games and will have a great opportunity to put up a big scoring night against the Pacers. Indiana averages the most possessions per game at 104.1 and attempt 95.1 field goals per game which is also first. That means this is going to be a faster paced game with plenty of scoring opportunities for the Blazers and more specifically Malcolm Brogdon. Brogdon is shooting 36.5% from beyond the Arc this season and the Pacers defense allows opponents to shoot 39.1% from the 3-point line which is 3rd worst in the league. Brogdon should put up a big scoring night against a Pacer defense that is 29th in the NBA in defensive efficiency and allow the 4th most points to Point Guards in the league.

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Four College Hoops Teams To Sell High On

by Kyle Hunter

Monday, Nov 27, 2023

We’re already almost a month into the college basketball season. A lot of teams have already played six or seven games. Today, I want to take a look at four teams I would consider selling high on. I like to think of the stock market system of buying low and selling high and apply it to sports betting. About the time many others are trying to buy when a team has covered a bunch of games in a row, it is usually a good time to be selling.  George Washington (5-2 ATS So Far) George Washington is 6-1 straight up and 5-2 ATS on the season. George Washington is shooting 37% from 3 point range on the season. In the last three years, this team has shot 32% or 33% from long range every single year. They are also shooting 80% from the free throw line this season. Those shooting numbers are very likely to regress toward the mean. George Washington has also committed a very small amount of fouls (6th fewest in FTA/FGA in country) and their defense is likely going to be called for more fouls going forward. Northern Illinois (5-0 ATS) The Northern Illinois Huskies are a perfect 5-0 ATS this year. Out of 362 teams in the country, Northern Illinois ranks as the fifth luckiest team so far this year according to KenPom. Their opponents are shooting just 28% from the three point line on the season. The Huskies have the sixth highest rate of getting to the free throw line in the country. I do think this is a team that is at least somewhat improved, but they aren’t as good as they have looked in the first five games.  Butler (6-1 ATS) The Butler Bulldogs have had a great start to the season. Thad Matta’s team has blown away several weak opponents. They do have solid wins over Penn State and Boise State as well. I’m not in a rush to fade them when they are playing weaker teams coming up on their schedule, but in Big East play I think this team will be a good fade. The Big East is a really tough conference. Butler isn’t likely to be able to keep holding opposing teams to 26.7% from three point range. The Bulldogs are better, but I think the market will get too high on this team. Lamar (4-2 ATS) The Lamar Cardinals have shot 31%, 30%, and 32% from three point range in the last three years. Through six games this year, Lamar is shooting 42.2% from three. It sounds too good to be true doesn’t it? This team won’t be able to keep this up. This is a team that plays at a very fast pace, and they are unlikely to be able to keep scoring at the level they have been at thus far. Lamar has played a very easy schedule season to date, and they have some tougher games coming up soon. They’ll play Sam Houston, Southern Miss, and LSU in the next few weeks. I’ll look for some spots to fade Lamar. 

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NHL: Twenty Games In

by Will Rogers

Monday, Nov 27, 2023

Most teams have now played around 20 games. There's still a very long way to go but the standings at the 1/4 point of the season often seem to hold up. Since the 2005-06 season, of the 240 teams to find themselves in a playoff spot on Thanksgiving, 184 have gone on to make the post-season. That’s 76.7%, which is a pretty accurate success rate. Of the 56 teams that fell out of the playoff picture after the Thanksgiving, 31 were only within a single point of the final wild-card berth. Only two teams in the salary-cap era failed to make the playoffs after sitting ahead of the final berth by 10 or more points, at Thanksgiving. So, yes, there's a long way to go but teams which are off to strong starts tend to keep it up. Let's take a look at what's going on around the league. At The Betting WindowThe New York Rangers (+$791) have been the most profitable team to bet on this season. The Canucks, Kings, Flyers and Capitals round out the top five. The Minnesota Wild (-$967) have hurt their backers more than any other team. Edmonton and San Jose are the second and third worst. O/U TrendsIt's been a very equal split when it comes to totals, as there have been 152 unders and 151 overs. If you throw out OT games, 52.7% of non-overtime games have stayed below the total. Home Sweet Home?Not really. Home teams have only won 52.5% of their games. Favorites are cashing at just over a 60% clip. Who's Hot The Predators and Kings are both a perfect 5-0 their past five. The Rangers have won three straight and are 8-1-1 their past 10. Colorado, also off three consecutive victories, is 7-3 its past 10. Who's NotThe Wild have now lost seven in a row. The Ducks have dropped six straight. Chicago and San Jose remain at the bottom of the standings. Scoring LeadersNikita Kucherov has the most points (35) in the league but its close. Hughes, Miller, Pastrnak and a list of others are hot on his heels. Connor Bedard leads all rookies with 17 points. Current Odds To Win the Stanley CupFuture odds help to provide insight into where teams are at. Remember, top seeds don't always win when in the NHL playoffs. The Canucks are currently in good shape to make the playoffs and could be worth a look at 25-1. The Kings are priced fairly at +1450.   Vegas Golden Knights +750Colorado Avalanche +783Boston Bruins +915Carolina Hurricanes +1100Dallas Stars +1100New York Rangers +1100Toronto Maple Leafs +1227Florida Panthers +1301Los Angeles Kings +1450New Jersey Devils +1700Tampa Bay Lightning +1992Edmonton Oilers +2100Winnipeg Jets +2400Vancouver Canucks +2500Pittsburgh Penguins +4300Calgary Flames +6330Minnesota Wild +6500New York Islanders +7008Detroit Red Wings +7200Nashville Predators +7500Seattle Kraken +7553Washington Capitals +8000Ottawa Senators +8509St. Louis Blues +8800Buffalo Sabres +13000Arizona Coyotes +15000Philadelphia Flyers +15516Anaheim Ducks +17500Montreal Canadiens +21000Chicago Blackhawks +35000Columbus Blue Jackets +35000San Jose Sharks +71966

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NFL, NBA, NHL, NCAAB and EPL Previews and Odds - 11/27/2023

by Big Al Staff

Monday, Nov 27, 2023

The Monday sports card features NFL, NBA, NHL, NCAAB, and EPL action. The Minnesota Vikings host the Chicago Bears on ABC and ESPN at 8:15 PM ET. The Vikings were on a five-game winning streak before their 21-20 loss at Denver as a 2.5-point underdog last Sunday. Minnesota lost that game despite outgaining the Broncos by a 385-292 yardage margin. Quarterback Josh Dobbs completed 20 of 32 passes for 221 yards, with a touchdown pass and an interception in the losing effort. The Bears lost for the third time in their last four games in a 31-26 loss at Detroit as a 7.5-point underdog on Sunday. Chicago got outgained by a 338 to 334 margin in yardage. Justin Fields returned from his injury to complete 16 of 23 passes for 169 yards with a touchdown and no interceptions. This game is a rematch of their game on October 15th, which the Vikings won by a 19-13 score on the road at Soldier  Field as a 3-point favorite .Minnesota is a 7.5-point favorite, with a total of 44 in this rematch. The National Basketball Association has five games on its docket. Three NBA games tip off at 7:10 PM ET. The Detroit Pistons host the Washington Wizards as a 3.5-point favorite with an over/under of 234. The Indiana Pacers play at home against the Portland Trail Blazers as a 12-point favorite with a total of 241.5. The Philadelphia 76ers are at home against the Los Angeles Lakers as a 4.5-point favorite with an over/under of 231.5. The Los Angeles Clippers are at home against the Denver Nuggets as a 4.5-point favorite with a total of 219.The National Hockey League has six games on its slate. Three NHL games drop the puck at 7:07 PM ET. The Boston Bruins visit Columbus to play the Blue Jackets as a -258 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 6. The New York Rangers host the Buffalo Sabres as a -218 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. The Florida Panthers play in Ottawa against the Senators as a -130 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Colorado Avalanche is at home against the Tampa Bay Lightning at 9:07 PM ET as a -142 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. The Vegas Golden Knights are a -115 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 6. The college basketball schedule has three games on national television. Cincinnati hosts Oakland University on FS1 at 6:30 PM ET as a 13.5-point favorite with a total of 151. Connecticut plays at home against New Hampshire on the CBS Sports Network as a 31.5-point favorite with an over/under of 147. Saint Mary’s is at home against Utah on ESPNU as a 5.5-point favorite with a total of 134.5. Matchweek 13 in the English Premier League concludes with one match on the USA Network. Wolverhampton plays Fulham at 3 PM ET. The Wolves come off a 2-1 victory at Tottenham on November 12th. The Villans' last match in the EPL was a 3-1 loss at Aston Villa on November 12th. This game is a pick ‘em match (from BetMGM) with an over/under of 2.5.

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5 Under The Radar College Hoops Teams to Watch

by Kyle Hunter

Sunday, Nov 26, 2023

In college basketball, I find it most profitable to bet on under the radar matchups. Of course many people will want to bet on the big games, and I do occasionally place wagers on the big games. Still, I have had the most success when betting on the smallest games in conferences that many bettors will simply overlook. I wanted to take a look at five teams off most people’s radar that I believe bettors should keep a close eye on for betting value throughout the season. These are in no particular order.  College of Charleston- It works out perfectly that they have started out the season 0-5 against the spread. Bettors are going to stay away later this season because of what they did in some of these early tournaments. I think  that will be a mistake. Pat Kelsey is an excellent coach, and I would expect him to have this young team playing good basketball later in the year. It helps that the Colonial Athletic Association is a much weaker league than it was in the past, and Charleston is playing a tough non-conference schedule. They’ll be battle tested from the start! Towson- The Towson Tigers are 0-6 against the spread so far this year. You might be sensing a theme that I do tend to like betting teams who start poorly on an ATS basis. Bettors tend to throw these teams out to the trash too early. There are some solid betting systems that show in the mid-late season betting on these teams with a poor cover percentage is a very profitable strategy. Towson is an elite offensive rebounding team, and I think they’ll find their footing. Middle Tennessee State- The Middle Tennessee State Blue Raiders haven’t played very well so far this year. They are 1-5 ATS on the season thus far. MTSU plays in a weak Conference USA. This is a conference that has gotten MUCH weaker in the last couple seasons. The Blue Raiders routinely have a very good defense under Nicholas McDevitt, and I think that defense will help them start covering spreads later in the season once again. This is a very tall team and that can give them matchup advantages too. Morehead State- Morehead State is always a solid team, and I expect them to be good once again this year. They have been playing a brutal non-conference schedule. Morehead State was crushed by both Alabama and Purdue already this year. They also lost at Penn State. The Eagles are still one of the teams to beat in a weak Ohio Valley Conference. Morehead State is good at forcing teams to play their style of basketball. They force slower and very physical games.  Furman Furman beat Virginia in the NCAA Tournament last year, but they have started off this season 1-4 ATS. They are 40th according to KenPom in minutes continuity from last season. This is a very similar team to last season. Bob Richey is an excellent coach. Let’s hope the market sours a bit on them and we can make money backing the Paladins, who will once again have a nice season. 

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Key NFL Games Down The Stretch

by AAA Sports

Sunday, Nov 26, 2023

Cold weather is calling, and with it comes the home stretch of the NFL season. A look at one of the key games in each of the final six weeks of the season, with each team mentioned as having a legitimate chance of getting to and winning the Super Bowl.Week 13San Francisco (8-3) at Philadelphia (10-1) – Isn’t it about time that Brock Purdy enter the MVP discussion? Purdy has completed more than 70 percent of his passes this season, including a ridiculous 75 percent during the month of November. The Niners (1.5-point favorites) have momentum (three straight wins) heading into Philadelphia, where the Eagles are undefeated this year. Philly is a solid 6-2-3 ATS this season.Consensus odds to win Super Bowl – San Francisco +450, Philadelphia +450Week 14Buffalo (6-6) at Kansas City (8-3) – Oddsmakers still like the Chiefs to make it out of the AFC, even though the offense has hit some rough patches. KC still has a top 10 offense, but this year the heavy lifting has been done by its Top 5 defense. No one is too worried about that pre-Thanksgiving loss at home to the Eagles, especially because the schedule from here on in is not all that taxing. The Bills, though, have to dig deep in what has been an up-and-down season.Consensus odds to win Super Bowl – Kansas City +45, Buffalo +2500Week 15Baltimore (9-3) at Jacksonville (8-3) – Odd home/road split for the Jaguars, who are .500 at home but undefeated on the road. Indianapolis and Houston keep knocking on the door in the AFC South, but after this one the Jags coast home with games against Tampa Bay, Carolina and Tennessee. No game is easy in the AFC North, and Baltimore has a brutal close-out in Weeks 16-18 – San Francisco, Miami and Pittsburgh.Consensus odds to win Super Bowl – Baltimore +850, Jacksonville +2000Week 16Dallas (8-3) at Miami (8-3) – The Cowboys get a chance to warm up after a Week 15 game in Buffalo. With the exception of a Week 4 brain fart in Buffalo, the Dolphins have taken care of business this year. Its losses have been against solid teams (Philadelphia and Kansas City), and the offense has been consistent enough to score more than 30 points six times. Dallas has scored nearly twice as much as its opponents and is solid both ATS (7-4) and SU.Consensus odds to win Super Bowl – Dallas +850, Miami +900Week 17Detroit (8-3) at Dallas (8-3) – Second straight toughie for the Cowboys, although some are getting down on the Lions after their Thanksgiving Day loss to the Packers. In fact, you have to go all the way back to Opening Day to find a really good team that the Lions have defeated. They should be able to get things back on track with games against the Saints and Bears, and figure to be still in control on the NFC North by the time Week 17 rolls around.Consensus odds to win Super Bowl – Dallas +850, Detroit +1200Week 18Pittsburgh (7-4) at Baltimore (8-3) – Steelers/Ravens in the last week? Makes perfect sense. The Steelers have been doing it with baling wire and duct tape all year, giving up more points than they score but somehow winning more games than they lose. This game will no doubt have playoff implications and may decide home field in the first round of the playoffs.Consensus odds to win Super Bowl – Pittsburgh +7500, Baltimore +850

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NFL, NBA, NHL, NCAAB and EPL Previews and Odds - 11/26/2023

by Big Al Staff

Sunday, Nov 26, 2023

The Sunday sports card features NFL, NBA, NHL, NCAAB, and EPL action. Week 12 in the NFL continues with 11 games. Six NFL games kick off at 1 PM ET. The New Orleans Saints travel to Atlanta to play the Falcons as a 2-point road favorite, with the total set at 41.5 (all odds from DraftKings unless indicated otherwise). The Pittsburgh Steelers play in Cincinnati against the Bengals as a 2-point road favorite with an over/under of 36. The Jacksonville Jaguars are in Houston against the Texans as a 1.5-point road favorite with a total of 48.5. The Indianapolis Colts host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as a 2.5-point favorite with an over/under of 45.5. The New England Patriots play in New York against the Giants as a 4-point road favorite with a total of 34. The Tennessee Titans are at home against the Carolina Panthers as a 3.5-point favorite with an over/under of 36.5. Two NFL games start at 4:05 PM ET. The Los Angeles Rams are in Arizona to play the Cardinals as a 2.5-point road favorite with a total of 45. The Denver Broncos play at home against the Cleveland Browns as a 1.5-point favorite with an over/under of 37. Two more NFL games begin at 4:25 PM ET. The Kansas City Chiefs visit Las Vegas to play the Raiders as a 9-point road favorite with a total of 43.5. The Philadelphia Eagles host the Buffalo Bills as a 3-point favorite with an over/under of 48.5. Sunday Night Football on NBC has the Baltimore Ravens playing in Los Angeles against the Chargers at 8:20 PM ET. The Ravens are a 3-point road favorite with a total of 48.5. The National Basketball Association has eight games on its docket. The Milwaukee Bucks play at home against the Portland Trail Blazers at 3:40 PM ET as a 12.5-point favorite with an over/under of 231. Four more NBA games tip off at 6:10 PM ET. The Boston Celtics are at home against the Atlanta Hawks as a 7.5-point favorite with a total of 235. The New York Knicks host the Phoenix Suns as a 3-point favorite with an over/under of 221. The Orlando Magic play at home against the Charlotte Hornets as a 6.5-point favorite with a total of 228.5. The Minnesota Timberwolves are in Memphis to play the Grizzlies as a 7-point road favorite with an over/under of 217. Two NBA games start at 7:40 PM ET. The Brooklyn Nets are at home against the Chicago Bulls as a 2.5-point favorite with a total of 214.5. The Cleveland Cavaliers host the Toronto Raptors as a 1.5-point favorite with an over/under of 219.5. The Denver Nuggets play at home against the San Antonio Spurs at 8:10 PM ET as an 11.5-point favorite with a total of 228.5. The National Hockey League has five games on its slate. The Minnesota Wild travel to Detroit to play the Red Wings at 1:07 PM ET as a -115 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The St. Louis Blues are in Chicago to play the Blackhawks at 2:07 PM ET as a -155 money-line road favorite with a total of 6.5. The Carolina Hurricanes are at home against the Columbus Blue Jackets at 5:07 PM ET as a -290 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Winnipeg Jets play in Nashville against the Predators at 8:07 PM ET as a -120 money-line road favorite with a total of 6. The Edmonton Oilers host the Anaheim Ducks at 9:07 PM ET as a -265 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The college basketball schedule has five games on national television. Penn State battles VCU in the ESPN Events Invitational at the State Farm Field House in Kissimmee, Florida, on ESPNU at 10:30 AM ET as a 2-point favorite with a total of 137.5. Florida Atlantic plays Virginia Tech in the ESPN Events Invitational on ESPN at 1 PM ET as a 3-point favorite with an over/under of 151. Boise State faces Butler in the ESPN Events Invitational on ESPN2 at 4 PM ET as a 1-point favorite with a total of 145. Iowa State goes against Texas A&M in the ESPN Events Invitational on ESPN2 at 6:30 PM ET as a 1-point favorite with an over/under of 134. San Francisco plays at home against Minnesota on the CBS Sports Network at 8:30 PM ET as a 4.5-point favorite with a total of 137.5. Matchweek 13 in the English Premier League continues with two matches on the USA Network. Aston Villa visits Tottenham at 9 AM ET in a pick ‘em match with an over/under of 3 (all soccer odds from BetMGM). Manchester United play at Everton at 11:30 AM ET in a pick ‘em contest with a total of 2.5.

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NCAAF, NBA, NHL, NCAAB and EPL Previews and Odds - 11/25/2023

by Big Al Staff

Saturday, Nov 25, 2023

The Saturday sports card features NCAAF, NBA, NHL, NCAAB, and EPL action. The 13th week in college football concludes with 49 games between FBS opponents. Seven nationally televised NCAAF games kick off at noon ET. Louisville hosts Kentucky on ABC as a 7.5-point favorite, with the total set at 49.5 (all odds from DraftKings unless indicated otherwise). Central Florida plays at home against Houston on FS1 as a 14-point favorite with an over/under of 60.5. Michigan is at home against Ohio State on Fox as a 3.5-point favorite with a total of 46.5. LSU hosts Texas A&M on ESPN as a 13-point favorite with an over/under of 66. Miami (OH) travels to Ball State on the CBS Sports Network as a 4-point road favorite with a total of 35. SMU plays at home against Navy on ESPN2 as a 19-point favorite with an over/under of 45.5. Troy is at Southern Mississippi on ESPNU as a 17-point road favorite with a total of 48. Syracuse is at home against Wake Forest on The CW at 2 PM ET as a 2.5-point favorite with an over/under of 43.5. Seven NCAAF games are on national television at 3:30 PM ET. Alabama visits Auburn as a 13.5-point road favorite with a total of 47.5. Liberty plays at UTEP on the CBS Sports Network as a 17-point road favorite with an over/under of 55.5. Appalachian State hosts Georgia Southern on ESPNU as a 10-point favorite with a total of 63. James Madison is at Coastal Carolina on ESPN2 as an 8-point road favorite with an over/under of 50.5. Oklahoma State plays at home against BYU on ABC as a 16.5-point favorite with a total of 55.5. Wisconsin is at Minnesota on FS1 as a 3-point road favorite with an over/under of 44.5. Arizona travels to Arizona State on ESPN as a 13-point road favorite with a total of 49.5. Washington is at home against Washington State on Fox at 4 PM ET as a 15.5-point favorite with an over/under of 66. Three NCAAF games on national television begin at 7 PM ET. West Virginia plays at Baylor on FS1 as an 11.5-point road favorite with a total of 54.5. South Alabama is at Texas State on the NFL Network as a 6-point road favorite with an over/under of 58. Florida State visits Florida on ESPN as a 6.5-point road favorite with a total of 49. Three more nationally televised NCAAF games start at 7:30 PM ET. Georgia plays at Georgia Tech on ABC as a 24-point road favorite with an over/under of 59.5. Kansas is at Cincinnati on ESPN2 as a 7-point road favorite with a total of 58. South Florida hosts Charlotte on ESPNU as a 7-point favorite with an over/under of 57. Kansas State plays at home against Iowa State on Fox as a 10-point favorite with a total of 45.5. Wyoming travels to Nevada on the CBS Sports Network as an 11-point road favorite with an over/under of 41.5. Two more NCAAF games are on national television at 10:30 PM ET. Fresno State plays at San Diego State on FS1 as a 5.5-point road favorite with a total of 46.5. UCLA is at home against California on ESPN as a 9-point favorite with an over/under of 51.The National Basketball Association has six games on its docket. The Philadelphia 76ers are in Oklahoma City to play the Thunder as a 1-point road favorite with a total of 231.5. The Brooklyn Nets host the Miami Heat at 6:10 PM ET as a 3.5-point favorite with an over/under of 218.5. The Atlanta Hawks visit Washington to play the Wizards at 7:10 PM ET as an 8-point road favorite with a total of 248.5. The Cleveland Cavaliers play at home against the Los Angeles Lakers at 7:40 PM ET as a 4-point favorite with an over/under of 225. The New Orleans Pelicans are in Utah to play the Jazz at 9:40 PM ET as a 1.5-point road favorite with a total of 233.5. The Dallas Stars play in Los Angeles against the Clippers at 10:40 PM ET as a 1-point road favorite with an over/under of 237.5. The National Hockey League has eight games on its slate. The Boston Bruins travel to New York to play the Rangers at 1:07 PM ET as a -118 money-line road favorite with a total of 6. The Los Angeles Kings are at home against the Montreal Canadiens at 4:07 PM ET as a -270 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. Two NHL games drop the puck at 7:07 PM ET. The New Jersey Devils host the Buffalo Sabres as a -166 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. The Toronto Maple Leafs play in Pittsburgh against the Penguins as a -115 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The New York Islanders are at home against the Philadelphia Flyers at 7:37 PM ET as a -155 money-line favorite with a total of 6. Three games conclude the NHL card at 10:07 PM ET. The Vancouver Canucks are in San Jose to play the Sharks as a -245 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Vegas Golden Knights host the Arizona Coyotes as a -238 money-line favorite with a total of 6. The Colorado Avalanche play at home against the Calgary Flames as a -175 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The college basketball schedule has four games on national television. Georgetown hosts Jackson State on FS2 at noon ET as a 10.5-point favorite with a total of 150. Two more NCAAB games on national television tip-off at 7 PM ET. St. John’s plays at home against Holy Cross on FS2 as a 21-point favorite with an over/under of 152.5. Ohio State battles Santa Clara in the Emerald Coast Classic at the Raider Arena in Niceville, Florida, on the CBS Sports Network. DePaul is at home against Northern Illinois on FS2 at 9 PM ET as a 3.5-point favorite with a total of 153. Matchweek 13 in the English Premier League begins with seven matches. Manchester City hosts Liverpool at 7:30 AM ET as a -0.5 goal line favorite with an over/under of 3 (all soccer odds from BetMGM). Five more EPL matches start at 10 AM ET. West Ham United visits Burnley as a -0.5 goal-line road favorite with a total of 2.5. Crystal Palace plays at Luton Town as a -0.5 goal-line road favorite, with an over/under of 2.5. Chelsea is at Newcastle United in a pick ‘em match with a total of 2.5. Brighton and Hove Albion are in Nottingham Forest on the USA Network as a -0.5 goal-line road favorite with an over/under of 2.5. Bournemouth visits Sheffield United as a -0.5 goal-line road favorite with a total of 2.5. Arsenal plays at Brentford on the USA Network at 12:30 PM ET as a -0.5 goal-line road favorite with an over/under of 2.5. 

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NFL, NCAAF, NBA, NHL and NCAAB Previews and Odds - 11/24/2023

by Big Al Staff

Friday, Nov 24, 2023

The Friday sports card features NFL, NCAAF, NBA, NHL, and NCAAB action. Week 12 of the NFL regular season continues with one game on Amazon Prime at 3 PM ET. The Miami Dolphins travel to New York to play the Jets at 3 PM ET as a 10-point road favorite, with the total set at 41. The 13th week in college football continues with 13 games on national television between FBS opponents. Six games kick off at noon ET. Toledo plays at Central Michigan on ESPU as a 10.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 54.5. Ohio is at Akron on the CBS Sports Network as 14-point road favorite with a total of 41. Nebraska hosts Iowa on CBS as a 2.5-point favorite with an over/under of 24.5. Miami (FL) visits Boston College on ABC as a 10-point road favorite with a total of 49. Oklahoma plays at home against TCU on Fox as a 9-point favorite with an over/under of 63. Memphis plays at Temple on ESPN as a 13-point road favorite with a total of 64. Two NCAAF games start at 3:30 PM ET. Tulane is at home against UTSA  as a 3.5-point favorite with an over/under of 52. Utah State is at New Mexico on the CBS Sports Network as a 5-point road favorite with a total of 60. Two more NCAAF games begin at 4 PM ET. Boise State hosts Air Force on FS1 as a 7-point favorite with a total of 46. Missouri travels to Arkansas on CBS as a 9-point road favorite with an over/under of 54.5. Two NCAAF games start at 7:30 PM ET. Texas plays at home against Texas Tech on ABC as a 14-point favorite with a total of 52.5. Penn State plays at Michigan State on NBC as a 22.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 48.5. Oregon is at home against Oregon State on Fox at 8:30 PM ET as a 13.5-point favorite with a total of 62.The National Basketball Association has 10 games on its docket. The Boston Celtics is at Orlando to play the Magic at 2:40 PM ET as a 5-point road favorite with an over/under of 223.5. The Phoenix Suns visit Memphis to play the Grizzlies at 5:10 PM ET as a 6-point road favorite with a total of 223. Two more NBA games tip off at 7:40 PM ET. The New York Knicks are at home against the Miami Heat on ESPN as a 5.5-point favorite with an over/under of 212. The Toronto Raptors host the Chicago Bulls as a 5-point favorite with a total of 217. Four NBA games start at 8:10 PM ET. The Indiana Pacers play at home against the Detroit Pistons as an 8.5-point favorite with an over/under of 247.5. The Denver Nuggets play in Houston against the Rockets as a 3-point road favorite with a total of 216.5. The Milwaukee Bucks are at home against the Washington Wizards as a 13.5-point favorite with an over/under of 246.5. The Minnesota Timberwolves host the Sacramento Kings as a 4-point favorite with a total of 229.5. The Golden State Warriors play at home against the San Antonio Spurs on ESPN at 10:10 PM ET as a 10-point favorite with an over/under of 233.5. The Los Angeles Clippers are at home against the New Orleans Pelicans at 10:40 PM ET as a 5.5-point favorite with a total of 224. The National Hockey League has 15 games on its slate. Two NHL games drop the puck at 1:07 PM ET. The Boston Bruins host the Detroit Red Wings as a -205 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6. The New York Rangers are in Philadelphia to play the Flyers as a -142 money-line road favorite with a total of 6. The Toronto Maple Leafs visit Chicago to play the Blackhawks at 2:07 PM ET as a -265 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 6.5. Three NHL games start at 3:07 PM ET. The Nashville Predators play in St. Louis against the Blues, with both teams priced at -110 with a total of 6. The New Jersey Devils play at home against the Columbus Blue Jackets as a -258 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Edmonton Oilers are in Washington to play the Capitals as a -130 money-line road favorite with a total of 6.5. Two more NHL games begin at 3:37 PM ET. The Los Angeles Kings travel to Anaheim to play the Ducks as a -198 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 6. The Montreal Canadiens play in San Jose as a -148 money-line road favorite with a total of 6.5. The Pittsburgh Penguins are in Buffalo Sabres on TNT at 6:07 PM ET as a -120 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Ottawa Senators are at home against the New York Islanders at 7:37 PM ET as a -130 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. Two more NHL games start at 8:07 PM ET. The Carolina Hurricanes host the Tampa Bay Lightning as a -170 money line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Florida Panthers play at home against the Winnipeg Jets as a -135 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. Two NHL games drop the puck at 8:37 PM ET. The Dallas Stars are at home against the Calgary Flames as a -180 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6. The Colorado Avalanche travel to Minnesota on TNT as a -130 money-line road favorite with a total of 6.5. The Vancouver Canucks play in Seattle against the Canucks at 10:07 PM ET as a -115 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The college basketball schedule has 15 games on national television. Texas A&M battles Florida Atlantic in the ESPN Events Invitational at the State Farm Field House in Kissimmee, Florida, on ESPN2 at 11 AM ET as a 2.5-point favorite with a total of 140. Xavier hosts Bryant on FS1 at noon ET on FS1 as a 17.5-point favorite with an over/under of 148. North Carolina faces Arkansas in the Battle 4 Atlantis at the Imperial Arena in Nassau, Bahamas, on ESPN2 as an 8-point favorite at 1 PM ET as a 2.5-point favorite with a total of 152.5. Connecticut plays at home against Manhattan on FS1 at 2 PM ET as a 35-point favorite with an over/under of 140.5. Pittsburgh goes against Oregon State in the NIT Preseason Tip-Off at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, on ESPN2 at 3 PM ET as a 9.5-point favorite with a total of 143.5. Villanova faces Memphis in the Battle 4 Atlantis at the Imperial Arena in Nassau, Bahamas, as a 3-point favorite with an over/under of 146. Two more NCAAB games start at 5:30 PM ET. Baylor faces Florida in the NIT Preseason Tip-Off at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, on ESPN as a 2.5-point favorite with a total of 157. Iowa State battles Virginia Tech in the ESPN Events Invitational as a 5-point favorite with an over/under of 141.5. Michigan plays Texas Tech in the Battle 4 Atlantis on ESPNU at 6 PM ET as a 1-point favorite with a total of 141.5.Alabama battle Ohio State in the Emerald Coast Classic at the Raider Arena in Niceville, Florida, on the CBS Sports Network as an 8-point favorite with an over/under of 153. Providence hosts Lehigh on FS2 as a 19-point favorite with a total of 144. Arizona State faces Vanderbilt in the Vegas Showdown at the Michelob Ultra Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada on ESPN2 at 8 PM ET. Boise State plays VCU in the ESPN Events Invitational on ESPNU as 2-point favorite with an over/under of 134.5. Oregon goes against Santa Clara on the CBS Sports Network at 9:30 PM ET as a 4-point favorite with a total of 144.5. North Carolina State faces Pacific in the in the Vegas Showdown at the Michelob Ultra Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. 

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